The Beat

Greene County, N.Y. - The Greene County Legislature is proud to announce the official opening of its new visitor center taking place on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 11AM.

“This major development project began well before I came to work for Greene County” notes James Hannahs, Director of Economic Development, Tourism & Planning. “In 2016, then Deputy County Administrator Warren Hart and then Executive Director of the Greene County IDA, Rene VanSchaack worked closely with the Greene County Legislature to acquire long underutilized properties with great potential on both the east and west sides of the NYS Thruway at Exit 21 in Catskill.”…

Revered Chef Nino Coniglio of Williamsburg Pizza and Coniglio’s in Morristown, NJ opens a new restaurant with the oldest coal oven in America

New York, N.Y. – Lucky Charlie, the new pizza restaurant and bar from award-winning chef Nino Coniglio (Williamsburg Pizza, Coniglios), is opening on June 27 in Bushwick, Brooklyn at 254 Irving Ave., between Bleecker and Menahan. The restaurant, which is home to the oldest coal oven in America, is inspired by New York pizzerias of the 1920s and Nino’s Sicilian heritage, and features a selection of pizzas that highlight Italian-imported ingredients, alongside a seasonally-rotating menu of meat, seafood, and oven-baked pasta dishes.

Niagara Falls, NY (June 22, 2025) — The excitement of magic meets the wonder of Niagara Falls with the opening of the Niagara Falls Magic Theatre, an extraordinary new venue that promises to enchant visitors and locals alike! Located on the lower level of the popular Comfort Inn The Pointe Hotel, this newly minted venue is set to host renowned Illusionist Leon Etienne as he takes audiences on a thrilling journey through mind-bending illusions and comedy.

Works by Seven Artists of the Pacific Northwest Celebrate Blending Ancestral Knowledge with Contemporary Forms and Media

New York, N.Y. - Shaping the Future Through Tradition, an exhibition of multimedia works by Indigenous artists from the Pacific Northwest, opens to the public on June 18 in the rotating contemporary art gallery of the Northwest Coast Hall at the American Museum of Natural History.

The Empire State invites travelers to join milestone anniversary celebrations, experience unique cultural events and explore new hotels and restaurants opening this summer

Albany, NY (June 17, 2025) – New York State is inspiring summer travel with an exciting lineup of historic anniversaries, vibrant cultural events and new openings across all of its 11 vacation regions. Throughout the season, visitors will celebrate 200 years of the Erie Canal, explore New York’s jazz legacy and attend the globally-watched Ryder Cup on Long Island. With new hotels, festivals and attractions opening from Buffalo to Montauk, the Empire State is offering fresh ways to discover its iconic beauty, rich history and vibrant communities—making 2025 an unforgettable time to visit.

Updated map design provides new information on affordable recreation opportunities

 The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today announced the release of an updated New York State Parks and Historic Sites map highlighting affordable options for outdoor recreation and culturally enriching experiences. The first update to a statewide overview of facilities since 2017, new additions to the map include recently opened and renamed parks Sojourner Truth State Park in Ulster County and Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn, as well as the 750-mile Empire State Trail which spans the entire state.

Final Saratoga Belmont Stakes Paves the Way for Grand Reopening and 2027 Breeders’ Cup at Reimagined Belmont Park 

Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will return to historic Saratoga Race Course in June 2026 for a third and final year to allow for the on-time and uninterrupted construction of a new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

A Bold New Addition to Long Island’s Landscape and Artistic Legacy

Oyster Bay, N.Y. – A century after its creation as an exclusive private estate, Planting Fields is once again on the cusp of redefining its legacy with the unveiling of a new addition: the Piet Oudolf Garden. Designed by Piet Oudolf, the world-renowned landscape designer whose visionary, naturalistic gardens have reshaped the global landscape design scene, this new space will make its debut in summer 2026. It is a move that promises to elevate Long Island as a must-visit destination for art, nature, and architecture lovers from across the globe.

Garden City, NY––June 4, 2025––Activate, known for its interactive game rooms with 75 minutes of exclusive gameplay that challenge the mind and body, is opening its newest location in Roosevelt Field on June 6 at 630 Old Country Road, 2079B. To celebrate, Activate is inviting the community to enjoy free gameplay during the grand opening weekend, from June 6-8.